Thousands Protest in Venezuela Against Nicolás Maduro’s Controversial Election Victory
At a rally in Caracas on Tuesday, a young violinist played alongside thousands of opposition supporters singing the Venezuelan national anthem, marking a strong yet peaceful protest against Nicolás Maduro’s contested election victory. Many attendees donned white, a symbol associated with opposition leader María Corina Machado, or wore national football team gear.
The crowd was a vibrant mix of Venezuelan flags in yellow, blue, and red, with some draped over their shoulders as capes.
Chants echoed through the streets: “You can see it, you can feel it, Edmundo is president!” and “Maduro dictator!” Alongside these, voices rang out with “No to fraud!” and “We are not afraid!”
This demonstration was part of a larger movement among millions of Venezuelans who dispute Maduro’s win, which was sanctioned by the regime-aligned CNE electoral council but is widely questioned internationally. The opposition claims that Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, 74, is the rightful winner, having been placed on the ticket after Machado was removed from the race.
A teenager, his face covered by a flag, pounded two pots together in front of the UN offices, a common symbol of protest in Latin America, with a sign reading: “We have the evidence, Edmundo is president.”
Another youth climbed a tall tree to hang a large Venezuelan flag, drawing cheers from the crowd below.
Machado and Gonzalez Urrutia arrived at the rally in the same open truck used during the campaign, with supporters capturing the moment on their phones. Machado declared, “I told you we were going to win and we won!” as the crowd erupted in applause.
The opposition leaders assert they have the voting records to substantiate Gonzalez Urrutia’s significant victory, despite the CNE’s report of 51 percent for Maduro and the CNE website being down since election day.
Machado challenged the CNE to release the tallies, questioning the delay and demanding a transition with guarantees for all parties involved.
In response to the protests, security forces used tear gas and rubber bullets, resulting in reported casualties. Maduro has accused the opposition of inciting “criminal violence” and ordered a special deployment of armed forces against opposition “comanditos,” which he claims are funded by external forces to create disorder.
Gonzalez Urrutia appealed to the armed forces to refrain from repressing the people’s will, insisting that there should be no persecution.
The protests, which began in impoverished neighborhoods severely affected by Venezuela’s economic crisis and mass emigration, reflect growing frustration among the populace. “People are tired,” said Thais Farais, a 31-year-old administrator from a struggling area. “They stole the election, 100 percent,” added Jonathan Rada, 25.
As the rally concluded, attendees sang the national anthem once more, united in their cause. However, as they dispersed, some groups were met with random tear gas attacks.